Tropical storm could hit Florida as major hurricane, expert warns

A satellite image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration showing Tropical Storm Milton off the coast of Mexico (NOAA via AP)

People across Florida have been warned that a tropical storm off the coast of Mexico could intensify rapidly into a major hurricane over the coming days before hitting the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast in the US.

“There is increasing confidence that a powerful hurricane with life-threatening hazards will be affecting portions of the Florida west coast around the middle of this week,” senior hurricane specialist Eric Blake advised on Sunday.